Never before have beautiful, quality Fairtrade certified seasonal gifts been as readily available as they are this year. They can be bought on the high street, through all the national supermarket chains, independent shops and online. The growing range of Fairtrade cotton garments has meant many new gift ideas for this year and a Fairtrade football should help kick start the New Year in a positive way. Fairtrade food, drinks, flowers and confectionery can all help to make this a time to remember – in our homes and in homes on the other side of the world.

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation says: “There’s a fantastic range of Fairtrade goods to make your Christmas fare as fair as it can be. Sales of goods which carry the Fairtrade Mark always rise over the Christmas period, but this year we’re expecting especially good results with great new festive options on offer.”

She adds: “Research shows many people see buying products with the Fairtrade Mark as one of the easiest things they can do to bring about positive change - and what better time than Christmas? By filling our shopping baskets with Fairtrade Christmas goodies, we can all support the efforts of farmers facing daily hardships to build brighter futures for their families and communities.”

And when you need a break from Christmas shopping, don’t forget there are more and more coffee shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants now serving Fairtrade hot drinks and snacks. Stop off at AMT Coffee at your local railway station, Café Revive at Marks & Spencer, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Slug & Lettuce, Pret A Manger, Progresso or many of the other places where you can get a well-earned Fairtrade drink and snack.

Calendars and coins

• Chocoholics can try the Divine range of Fairtrade Advent calendars, chocolate coins and after dinner mints, available from the Day Chocolate Company, www.divinechocolate.com
• To round off Christmas dinner with a good pud, check out Village Bakery’s Fairtrade Organic Christmas cake, Christmas Pudding and Fireside Cookies. Available on a seasonal basis in Oxfam shops and independent shops, or online from www.village-bakery.com.

Stocking fillers

• If your loved ones enjoy the finer things in life, pamper them with delicious Fairtrade Belgian Chocolates. Available from Oxfam shops and www.traidcraftshop.co.uk Alternatively look out for Co-op Truly Irresistible Fairtrade Luxury Hand-finished Chocolates available from Co-op stores nationwide.

Christmas Fare

• The Co-op is also the place to be tempted by with Co-op Fair Trade Yule Log, Co-op Cranberry Sauce with Port & Fairtrade Sugar and Co-op Fair Trade Choc Chip Shortbread
• Also try Taylors of Harrogate Limited Edition Christmas Coffee available at independent shops
• Marks & Spencer Fairtrade Christmas Blend coffee
• Traidcraft Chocolate Beans in Calico Bag - www.traidcraft.co.uk
  

The healthy option - fruit and nuts

• Look for Fairtrade fruit and nuts now available in most major supermarkets. What better way to wake up to Christmas Day than with a really good fresh fruit salad!
• Another healthy option – buy someone a sports ball For a fantastic sporty gift, buy a Fairtrade football, rugby ball, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball or basketball made in Pakistan available from Fair Deal Trading, www.fairdealtrading.com, Oxfam shops and some Blackwells stores.

Doing your own cooking…

• Take a look at the cook book A Fair Feast, a collection of 70 celebrity recipes which will add a flavour of fame to Christmas. Nigella Lawson’s ‘chocolate and orange cake’ or Elton John’s ‘pineapple soufflé’ are an unusual and refreshing alternative to Christmas pudding. Try the recipes using Fairtrade ingredients. Available from good bookshops, £9.99
• Dress your Christmas table with beautiful Fairtrade table linen from Oxton Cotton www.oxtoncotton.co.uk

For a Christmas tipple

• Raise a glass to 2007 with the Equality range by Las Lomas Casa Del Vino Mission (Red) Wine 75cl
  
• Traidcraft Chilean Cabarnet Merlot 75cl, £67.70 per case or Chilean Chardonnay 75cl, £67.70 per case.

There are now over 100 varieties of Fairtrade wine on sale in the UK, and there’s a variety to suit every taste and occasion. Available from major supermarkets, independent stores and online.

For a full list of products bearing the Fairtrade Mark visit www.fairtrade.org.uk